The incidence of COPD is increasing throughout the world, with the vast majority of patients with the disease remaining undiagnosed (Coultas et al., 2001) and underreported (Frank et al., 2006; Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD], 2003; Peña et al., 2000; Takahashi et al., 2003; Van Weel et al., 2002). This is highlighted in a recent study that found 63% of patients with a smoking history and spirometry-confirmed COPD had no mention of COPD in their medical records (Frank et al., 2006). These findings are indicative of a low awareness of the condition among patients with COPD (Stratelis et al., 2004).